Development of a Specialist Therapeutic Children's Home for Children with Complex Mental Health, Disability and High-Risk Needs

Market Engagement for the development of a specialist therapeutic Children's Home for children with complex mental health, disability and high-risk needs in County Durham. The Council is exploring a service model that may: • Operate as an Ofsted-registered children's home. • Provide up to three highly individualised placements. • Support solo living arrangements when required. • Deliver enhanced staffing arrangements where assessed as needed. • Operate using trauma-informed & psychologically informed approaches. • Incorporate Positive Behaviour Support principles. • Support restriction reduction and progression planning. • Maintain strong links with education, health and community services. • Promote placement stability and reduce placement breakdown. • Support children to remain closer to home wherever possible. • Reduce reliance on unregistered, emergency and out-of-area provision. • Support planned transitions to less restrictive environments when safe and appropriate. The Council is interested in understanding whether providers would favour: • A fully provider-operated model. • A partnership model involving local authority and health partners. • A clinically led model. • A hybrid therapeutic residential model. • Alternative innovative delivery approaches.